Hmm... I wonder... this is being posted to such an OLD string --- will it get read ? Especially by those who posted before me?

Here is 'the thing' about this topic, doing a web-search on Bruce Elliot, and SPECIFICALLY this book, is what brought me HERE !

So, you see, this book of his IS one that 'old timers' still seek out !

That said, let me explain a bit: I first read his book shortly after it was published, in a local public library. My age at that time ? Well, I was born 60 years ago, this summer.

I distinctly remember most of that book, although goodness knows the last time that I actually had a copy in my hands. That was more than 40 years ago, for sure ! I also remember performing the Dr. Sachs/Sacks Dice Routine while I was a Freshman in High School (Graduated in 1965, for reference sake).

His books, and in particular THIS ONE, did a lot towards spuring me on from curious and wannabe to PERFORMER.

So, what else ? I came here to this site, as mentioned, due to a web search... why ? To locate and purchase a copy of this wonderful book !

The name James Lewis got mentioned near the start... I used to 'hang' with him, at the Castle, before he brought out the Mis-Made Bill. Worked the ORIGINAL Renaissance Faire with him, and there, though I went by "Matthew the Magnificent Magician" I was known as "The Fire Eater"... hence, why I chose that moniker, here.

I also made Tina Lennert 'disappear in a puff of smoke' there at the Faire, for a cable TV show. Back then, and there, she was a MIME, not a magicienne.

More stories that I could tell, but what else for now ?

Along with doing Fire Eating, and Escapes, and such... I did Razor Blades (Merv Taylor's version, NOT Elliot's), and I DID do 'Corn Cobs'... but I used Clay Pipes.

Much more to say about THAT... IF someone wishes to ask ME about my YEARS with doing 'pipes', contact me.

For that matter, if anyone has anything else to say or ask, based upon this post, please do 'feel free'...

I really have PLENTY more to say... this IS my very first post here, and THIS topic is why I just now registered/joined this site.

As to other topics that I could 'go into'... well, for instance: The Name of a fellow compeer that put out 'Variations' got mentioned here, too... happens that 'if it weren't for me'...

but that is another story, entirely. I saw him while I was performing in Salt Lake City in '72, and ...

anyway, suffice it to say, he 'owes me'...

but if he were asked, he would have a very different story to tell, I am sure---

Oh, well. So, Fire Eater may be a most fitting 'name' here... for I am in jeopardy of creating flames, if I am completely outspoken !

The series of Elliot books were very influential when I was a kid. I loved the conversational tone, how he rambles from one effect to the next -- it was sort of like having a teacher. I learned the Wally Dean Miser's Dream (I still do an updated version of it). It must of been funny seeing a 12 year old kid producing a glass of colored water.

I agree that it isn't the most advanced MD, butit has it's own charm. I steal the glass from a Topit, as my shoulders are too broad to make the Dean steal without looking like I'm in pain. I use the Down's EUREKA PASS to produce five silver dollars, and another stack is concealed as in the Wally Dean routine. I pass the glass to the other hand, and produce coins with it as described. I end by stealing a stack of casino chips of different colors and producing them in a Down's Coin Star. There's only a couple of easy steals and the routine gets great response. It all started with Classic Secrets, though. I learned the Eureka pass from Amateur Magician's Handbook, perhaps another book-of-the-month.

Classic Secrets of Magic is one of the all time greats of magic books. A few years ago we had presentations out of this book for a Chairman's Day at The Modern Mystic League (Blackburn, Lancashire UK). If stuck on a desert island with only one magic book allowed this would probably be my choice (with Mnemonica and a few decks second choice!)
Roger

Anonymous wrote:Hmm... I wonder... this is being posted to such an OLD string --- will it get read ? Especially by those who posted before me?

Here is 'the thing' about this topic, doing a web-search on Bruce Elliot, and SPECIFICALLY this book, is what brought me HERE !

So, you see, this book of his IS one that 'old timers' still seek out !

That said, let me explain a bit: I first read his book shortly after it was published, in a local public library. My age at that time ? Well, I was born 60 years ago, this summer.

I distinctly remember most of that book, although goodness knows the last time that I actually had a copy in my hands. That was more than 40 years ago, for sure ! I also remember performing the Dr. Sachs/Sacks Dice Routine while I was a Freshman in High School (Graduated in 1965, for reference sake).

His books, and in particular THIS ONE, did a lot towards spuring me on from curious and wannabe to PERFORMER.

So, what else ? I came here to this site, as mentioned, due to a web search... why ? To locate and purchase a copy of this wonderful book !

The name James Lewis got mentioned near the start... I used to 'hang' with him, at the Castle, before he brought out the Mis-Made Bill. Worked the ORIGINAL Renaissance Faire with him, and there, though I went by "Matthew the Magnificent Magician" I was known as "The Fire Eater"... hence, why I chose that moniker, here.

I also made Tina Lennert 'disappear in a puff of smoke' there at the Faire, for a cable TV show. Back then, and there, she was a MIME, not a magicienne.

More stories that I could tell, but what else for now ?

Along with doing Fire Eating, and Escapes, and such... I did Razor Blades (Merv Taylor's version, NOT Elliot's), and I DID do 'Corn Cobs'... but I used Clay Pipes.

Much more to say about THAT... IF someone wishes to ask ME about my YEARS with doing 'pipes', contact me.

For that matter, if anyone has anything else to say or ask, based upon this post, please do 'feel free'...

I really have PLENTY more to say... this IS my very first post here, and THIS topic is why I just now registered/joined this site.

As to other topics that I could 'go into'... well, for instance: The Name of a fellow compeer that put out 'Variations' got mentioned here, too... happens that 'if it weren't for me'...

but that is another story, entirely. I saw him while I was performing in Salt Lake City in '72, and ...

anyway, suffice it to say, he 'owes me'...

but if he were asked, he would have a very different story to tell, I am sure---

Oh, well. So, Fire Eater may be a most fitting 'name' here... for I am in jeopardy of creating flames, if I am completely outspoken !

:)

Just so you know... I FINALLY have actually created a 'user' registration... this was my post, from about 2 years ago... made many more years AFTER this topic had gottn 'locked'...

But, since I had a lot to say in it, and it is ALL that I have so far posted, here... just want to try to make a 'tie-in' to it...:-)